Security and tracking system

Abstract

A security and tracking apparatus is provided, comprising at least two signaling units in communicating proximity, and means for identifying the location of the signaling units. In one embodiment, a security and tracking apparatus is provided, comprising at least two signaling units in communicating proximity, and means for identifying and automatically transmitting the location of the signaling units when the signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance. In a preferred embodiment, a method is provided to locate a person, an animal, or a material asset, comprising providing in contact with the person, animal, or material asset, at least two signaling units in communicating proximity, wherein at least one signaling unit is small and hidden and securely attached to the person, animal, or material asset, and the signaling units having means for identifying the location of the signaling units to a monitoring station; activating means for identifying the location of the signaling units by referencing the global positioning satellite (GPS) system; and notifying the monitoring station of said geographic location.

We claim:  
     
       1. A security and tracking apparatus comprising: 
       (a) a first signaling unit having means for identifying the location of said first signaling unit;  
       (b) a second signaling unit in communicating proximity with the first signaling unit, said second signaling unit having means for identifying the location of said second signaling unit; and,  
       (c) means for transmitting the location of said signaling units when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance.  
     
     
       2. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for transmitting the location of said signaling units is automatically activated when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance. 
     
     
       3. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for receiving an initiating signal for activating the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units. 
     
     
       4. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for initiating the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units by one of the signaling units. 
     
     
       5. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the signaling units is adapted to be hidden. 
     
     
       6. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with the global positioning satellite (GPS) system. 
     
     
       7. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with low earth orbit satellites. 
     
     
       8. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with a cellular network. 
     
     
       9. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is small enough to be able to be hidden in a wearable article. 
     
     
       10. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of an article of clothing, a shoe, a watch, a wristband, a bracelet, an identification card, an article of jewelry, a hair accessory, eyeglasses, and an animal collar. 
     
     
       11. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is securely attached to an individual. 
     
     
       12. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is securely attached to an animal. 
     
     
       13. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is securely attached to a material asset. 
     
     
       14. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of a credit card, a wallet, a cellular phone, a pager, a motor vehicle, a boat, an aircraft, a television, a radio, a stereo, a tape player, a compact disc player, a camera, a movie camera, a computer, a printer, a laptop computer, a briefcase, a suitcase, a weapon, an article of clothing, an article of jewelry, and an article of artwork. 
     
     
       15. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of a molded article, an extruded article, and a sewn article. 
     
     
       16. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mode of attachment of at least one signaling unit is an adhesive. 
     
     
       17. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the mode of attachment of at least one signaling unit is a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
       18. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling units are in a passive mode when said signaling units are in communicating proximity. 
     
     
       19. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for transmitting a continuous signal. 
     
     
       20. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for transmitting an intermittent signal. 
     
     
       21. The security and tracking apparatus of  claim 1 , including means for transmitting an encrypted signal. 
     
     
       22. A security and tracking system comprising: 
       (a) a first signaling unit having means for identifying the location of said first signaling unit;  
       (b) a second signaling unit in communicating proximity with the first signaling unit, said second signaling unit having means for identifying the location of said second signaling unit;  
       (c) means for transmitting the location of said signaling units when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance, and  
       (d) a monitoring station capable of receiving information identifying the location of said signaling units.  
     
     
       23. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , wherein said monitoring station includes a means for transmitting information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       24. The security and tracking system of  claim 23 , wherein the location of the remote receiver is one of a law enforcement agency facility, a law enforcement vehicle, an emergency response vehicle, and an emergency care facility. 
     
     
       25. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , including radio wave transmitting means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       26. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , including internet connecting means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       27. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , including telephone connecting means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       28. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , including cellular communicating means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       29. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , including low earth orbit satellite communicating means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       30. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with the global positioning satellite (GPS) system. 
     
     
       31. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with low earth orbit satellites. 
     
     
       32. The security and tracking system of  claim 22 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with a cellular network. 
     
     
       33. A method to locate a person, animal, or object, comprising: 
       (a) providing in contact with the person, animal, or object, at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, said second signaling unit in communicating proximity with said first signaling unit, each said signaling units having means for identifying the location of said signaling units and means for transmitting the location of said signaling units when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance; and  
       (b) activating said means to identify the location.  
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33 , including automatically activating the transmission of the location of the signaling units when said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 33 , including initiating the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units upon receiving instructions from a remote source. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 33 , including signaling the units from a monitoring station to initiate the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 33 , including activating one of the signaling units to initiate the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least one signaling unit is small, and wherein providing said signaling unit includes hiding said small unit in a wearable article. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 33 , including obtaining the location of the signaling units from the global positioning satellite (GPS) system. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 33 , including obtaining the location of the signaling units within an unlimited range from a monitoring station. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 33 , including operating the signaling units in a passive mode when said signaling units are in communicating proximity. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 33 , including continuously transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 33 , including intermittently transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 33 , including transmitting in an encrypted form the information identifying the location of the signaling units. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 33 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units to a monitoring station. 
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 45 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting additional information from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       48. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the description of an individual from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       49. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the description of an animal from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       50. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the description of a material asset from the monitoring station to a remote receiver. 
     
     
       51. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver using radio waves. 
     
     
       52. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver using the internet. 
     
     
       53. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver using a telephone network. 
     
     
       54. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver using a cellular network. 
     
     
       55. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver using low earth orbit satellites. 
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units with an accuracy of about 100 meters. 
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 46 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units with an accuracy of about 22 meters.